Chicago

April 21, 2006|By From news services.

Man gets 5 years for sword attack

An Arlington Heights man, accused of slashing his wife's friend with a samurai-type sword during an argument last year, was sentenced to 5 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to an aggravated battery charge. Stephen Shult, 39, entered the plea during a hearing in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a more serious charge of attempted murder.

Girl, 11, hurt in shooting

An 11-year-old girl was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting Thursday night on Chicago's Far South Side, police said. The girl was shot in the abdomen about 8:15 p.m. in the 11400 block of South Prairie Avenue, Sgt. Eugene Mullins said. She was rushed to University of Chicago Hospitals in serious condition, Mullins said. A captain at the Calumet District said police believe the shots were fired from a vehicle, but she could not provide a description of the shooter.

Police seek robbery suspect

Chicago police are searching for a man who they say robbed three businesses in the 4800 to 5100 blocks of South Archer Avenue between April 11 and Tuesday. The man entered each business carrying a black duffel bag and demanded money from the cashier, police said. Although he wielded a revolver in every robbery, police said, there were no injuries. Call 312-747-8382 with information.

Sexual assault added to father's murder charges

A DuPage County grand jury on Thursday indicted the father of an 8-year-old girl on sexual assault charges in addition to murder charges that accuse him of stabbing her in the neck and plunging her head in a toilet. The indictment charges Neil Lofquist with 21 counts of first-degree murder and two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault in the death of Lauren Lofquist.

Activists call for moratorium on arrests

Immigrant rights activists gathered in the Loop on Thursday to call for the release of undocumented workers arrested in raids that netted 26 people on the Southwest Side and nearly 1,200 nationwide. The arrested workers later were released on recognizance bonds. The activists also called for a moratorium on arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents like the ones that took place Wednesday at IFCO Systems, near Pilsen.